International Graduate School of Neuroscience
IGSN Conference 2026
We experienced two very special days when, on the occasion of the IGSN’s 25th anniversary, alumni, faculty members, PhD researchers, and guests came together to celebrate the IGSN family!
Alumni from virtually every IGSN graduation year since (the first) in 2004 and from many corners of the globe were present. Take Andrea Quesada (graduation year 2012), for example, who certainly had the longest journey from Brazil, put into words what everyone present would surely agree with:
“Attending the 25th anniversary celebration of the IGSN was incredible. Besides attending fantastic lectures, I was able to reconnect and exchange ideas. Revisiting RUB and the IGSN brought back pleasant memories.”
The two-day program was shaped by our alumni, who shared their expertise with our PhD researchers in two workshops and scientific talks.
The two days began with a satellite workshop for our PhD researchers, “Careers outside Academia”.
The Vice-Speaker of the IGSN, Prof. Carsten Theiß, welcomed PhD researchers and alumni and gave them an interesting overview of the current job market for PhD graduates before handing over to our alumni. Thank you to
Thank you to the following alumni for sharing their experiences from a wide variety of professional fields outside academia:
- Dr. Jon Barbour (2006), Dublin
- Dr. Sabine Blankenship (2008), Düsseldorf
- Dr. Deepak Dash (2008), Stockholm
- Dr. Valentina Kopp (2012), Cologne
- Dr. Naima Rüther (2014), Dortmund
- Dr. Fabian Schönfeld (2016), Bochum
Thank you for your openness, your enthusiasm, and for answering hundreds of questions from our PhD researchers.
After the workshop, in the presence of the founding fathers, Prof. Ulf Eysel and Prof. K.-P. Hoffmann, and the Vice-Rector for Research and Transfer of RUB, Prof. Günther Meschke, Prof. Manahan-Vaughan took us through the history of the IGSN, which she has shaped and guided since 2003.
Following this, alumni gave academic presentations showcasing the outstanding academic achievements they have made since completing their PhDs at the IGSN. Thank you to:
- Dr. Desmond Agboada (2020), Munich
- Dr. Ayla Aksel Aksoy (2010), Tübingen
- Prof. Ercan Altinsoy (2004), Dresden
- Prof. Tim Czopka (2009), Edinburgh
- Prof. Olivia Masseck (2008), Cologne
- Prof. Giulio Pergola (2011), Bari and Boston.
The afternoon of the second day was devoted entirely to the IGSN. PhD researchers, alumni, and faculty members took part in a workshop to discuss whether we need an IGSN 2.0. The IGSN’s Speaker, Prof. Katrin Marcus-Alic, chaired the workshop and quickly fostered an atmosphere of openness and discussion. The excellent outcomes and suggestions from the discussion sessions are both our mission and a source of joy.
Of course, the IGSN wouldn’t be the IGSN if we hadn’t celebrated as well. Many friends of the IGSN gathered at Q-West on the evening of April 21 to celebrate 25 years of neuroscience excellence!
We would like to thank all participants, alumni, faculty members, and guests who made these two days so memorable, and we would also like to thank the Science Hub Neuroscience and the MoNN&Di Research Training Group for their support.
